o. Every bolo was out, every savage
ready, but the word was passed along the line that the leader,
Sicto, had stepped on a snake. Entirely surrounded by the cruel
grass the column paused. The heat, increased by the oven-like
tunnel grew steadily worse, and those in the rear gasped and fought
for breath. They could hear the scuffle as the leaders fought the
reptile, and the fetid odor of the dread creature added to their
discomfort. Sicto had been swinging along ahead, stepping lightly on
the mattress-like turf, when he felt something move under his foot. It
was well under the matted grass, but it was wise to despatch the
creature if possible. Piang came to his assistance, and the snake,
probably gorged with rotting meat, exuded a terrible odor as it was
stabbed to death. Kicking the wriggling remains out of the path the
column pushed on, wondering if they would ever come to the end of
the stifling tunnel.

"Will it rain soon, Piang?" panted Tooloowee, as he toiled along
behind the charm boy.

"I cannot tell yet, but by sunset we shall know."

Toward evening the grass thinned perceptibly, and the steaming,
aching bodies felt the cool air rustling through the stalks.

"We are near the jungle; soon we shall be cool," sighed Kali
Pandapatan. Yes, it was growing cooler; they could breathe again,
but Piang knew that before morning they would be shivering with cold,
that the rain would come in the night. He smelled it, the rain that
would not come to help them through the arduous day.

When it came, there was a shout of joy. Kali looked anxiously at his
sweating tribesmen. After the terrific heat of the day, this rain would
chill them, and fever would surely follow; he must keep them on the
move. There was a murmur of protest as the order was given to move;
they had rested a scant two hours. By nine o'clock they were under
way again, struggling with the jungle as they had fought the mesa. The
downpour was straight and steady. It burrowed through the thick foliage
and ran down the tree trunks in torrents. The footing became uncertain,
and Piang warned Kali to look out for broken limbs. For many yards the
path lay along fallen tree trunks, slippery with moss and mold. The
footing became so treacherous that the order was given to crawl on all
fours, and the progress was painfully slow and tedious. Frequently
they strayed from the path and were forced to halt. The torches at
the head of the column twinkled and flickered fitf